Olympus TG-4 announced with RAW support and new macro modes

Olympus has officially introduced a compact camera that thrives in extreme conditions. It is called Stylus Tough TG-4 and it replaces the TG-3 version with improved functionality.

At the beginning of 2015, sources revealed that Olympus would introduce a trio of compact cameras. The Stylus Tough TG-860 and the Stylus SH-2 have already been announced, leaving us with the Stylus Tough TG-4. In early April 2015, a source leaked the first photos of this shooter, while claiming that the device was coming soon. As mid-April is upon us, the Japan-based company has finally unveiled the TG-4 in order to replace the TG-3 with a few improvements over the previous generation.

Olympus TG-4 is resistant to water, dust, shock, freezing, and pressure, so it is aimed at adventurers.

Olympus finally unveils TG-4 rugged compact camera

Everybody loves a bit of adventure and fun, but it is hard to get a device that is capable of withstanding nature’s extreme environments. For the people who want to record their extreme activities, Olympus has prepared the Stylus Tough TG series. The latest model is now official under the name of Olympus TG-4 and it allows users to stop worrying about the well-being of their camera.

The Stylus Tough TG-4 is waterproof, crushproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. According to the company, users can take it 15 meters / 50 feet underwater or to places where the temperatures drop down to -10 degrees Celsius / 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it can withstand 100kgf / 220 pounds of force and drops from 2.1 meters / 7 feet.

Olympus TG-4 features a 3-inch display on the back.

Olympus TG-4 comes packed with RAW support and new shooting modes over the TG-3

Moving past its physical attributes, the Olympus TG-4 features a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch-type image sensor and a TruePic VII processor. The camera comes with sensor-shift image stabilization to minimize camera shake effects, while being capable of capturing RAW photos, which is an upgrade over the previous generation.

The lens offers 4x optical zoom and a full-frame equivalent of 25-100mm. Its maximum aperture stands at f/2-4.9 depending on the selected focal length. Olympus says that the lens comes with Dual Super Aspherical and High Refractive Index & Dispersion technologies in order to reduce chromatic aberration and other optical flaws.

Olympus TG-4 comes with a special macro photography mode called Microscope Mode, which allows photographers to focus on subjects located at a distance of just one centimeter when using the lens at the 100mm telephoto end (35mm equivalent).

Additionally, this ruggedized shooter provides an underwater HDR mode along with a Live Composite mode and the ability to select targets in autofocus mode among others.

Olympus TG-4 will become available this May.

Tough TG-4 to become available this spring, just in time for your summer vacation

Olympus has added some connectivity options into the Stylus Tough TG-4, including WiFi and GPS. The former allows users to transfer files to a smartphone or tablet, while the latter adds location data into your photos and videos. An electronic compass is present, too, in order to provide information about the altitude, depth or atmospheric pressure.

Photographers get access to a maximum ISO of 6,400, maximum shutter speed of 1/2000s, burst mode of 5fps, and a fixed 3-inch LCD screen. Additionally, this rugged compact camera records full HD videos and stores them on an SD / SDHC / SDXC card.

Olympus TG-4 measures 112 x 66 x 31mm / 4.41 x 2.6 x 1.22 inches and weighs 247 grams / 8.71 ounces. It will be released this May in black and red color options for a price of $379.99 and it can be pre-ordered at Amazon right now.